Music-roll producer for self-playing pianos.



D. M. GLOAK. MUSIG ROLL PRODUCER FOR SELF PLAYING PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22,1909. I I 961,754. Patented June 21,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

8mm v D. M. GLOAK. MUSIC ROLL PRODUGERPFOR SELF PLAYING' PIANOS.

APPLIO ATION FILED DBO. 22, 1909. 961,754. Patented June 21, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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wumto o v j M /04/51 D. M. GLOAK. MUSIC ROLL PRODUCER FOR SELF PLAYING PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 22, 1909. 961,754. Patented June'2l, 1910.

5g QQW I elm/"M 5 V I 1 Mg L w I m n I n gkww u a bnbynyana D. M. CLOAK. MUSIC ROLL PRODUCER FOR SELF PLAYING PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED nn0.22,1'909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

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0 oooooooomw Nunlus Films.lntLlmmwAsnmalou n c D. M. GLOAK. MUSIC ROLL PRODUCER FOR SELF PLAYING PIANOS.

APPLIOATION IILEI) 1120.22, 1909.

Patented June 21,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

UNITED STACEEQPA? curios.

MUSIC-BOLD rnonucnn roe SELF-PLAYlNG' rmnos.

861,754., I Specification 9 Letters r Patented June21, 1910. Application filed December 22, 1909. Serial No. 584,507.

To all whom it may concern: and which will not take up room or inter- Be it known that I, DONALD M. .GLoAK, a fare with the ordinary playing thereof, said citizen of the United States, residing at mechanism being arranged so that the de- Dover, in the county of Kent, State of Delapression of each key will close a separate 5 ware, have invented certain new and useful electric circuit adapted to, actuate certain 60 Improvements in Music-Roll Producers for mechanism which will effect the punching Self-Playing Pianos; and I do hereby 'deof the holes in the paper. clare the following to be a full, clear, and With the above and other objects in View,

exact description of the invention, such as the invention consists in general of a series 1o will enable others skilledin the art to which of electro-mag'nets, means actuated b the 05 i it ap ertains to make and use the same. depression of piano keys whereby eac key fiThis invention relates to devices for procontrols the closing of the circuit through a ducing music rolls foruse with what are respective ma et, a punching mechanism, known as automatic pianos wherein a roll means control .ed by the respective magnets or length-of paper provided with perforawhereby the punches are rendered opera- "7o tions is usedto regulate the action. of the tive' or inoperative according to the keys. instrument. 1 depressed, and motor mechanism to run The invention especially has reference to said punches.

,a device {which may be attached to a piano The invention further-consists in certain of the. rdinary type, and which, when so novel details of construction and combina- 75 attached, will operate to punch holes of the tions'of parts hereinafter fully described, proper. position and length in a moving web illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of paper during the time that the piano is and specifically set forth in the claims. being played. In the accompanying drawings, like. char- One object of the invention is to provide acters of reference indicate like parts in the so a construction ofthis character which shall several views, and Figure 1 is a top plan be electrically operated and whereinthe de view of the punching mechanism used with pression of the key will act to punch a hole this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse secin a'moving web ofpaper, the length of the tion through the mechanism shown in Fig.

holes being regulated by the time that the "1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevationof the mechan- 85- key is kept depressed and the position of ism shownin Fig.1. Fig. e is anenlarged the hole s idewise of the web being regulated partial front elevation of the mechanism by the specific key which may be depressed. shown in the foregoing figures. Fig. 5 is Another object of the invention isto proan enlarged detail section showing one of vide means whereby the punching operation the punches and its magnet in inoperative 90 may be entirely independent of the speed position. Fig. dis a view similar to Fig.

at which the web of paper moves so that a 5 show ngthe mechanism in operative poperson can play as slowlyand carefully as. sition. Fig. 7 is a section'throu ha piano may be desired when producing the roll key-board showing the circuit cosing ele- 40' while at the same time the roll so produced ments and diagrammatically disclosing 95 will, when run through an'automatic piano their relation to a battery and certain of at the ordinary speed, produce the proper the magnets. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of tempo in the music. a piano key-hoard with the casing removed A third object of the invention 18 to proand the circuit closing mechanism in posivide a novel means whereby the striking of tion. 100

.a chord will so "actuatea number of punches- The numeral 10 indicates a base board that the paper will be simultaneously whereon the various elements comprising punched in the place indicative of suclnkeys this inventlon are carrled. I as may be struck, thus enabling the web to It is preferred that the mechanism herein effect the simultaneous striking of the keys illustrated should. be cased in but the casing 105 of the chord when run through an autohas been omitted in the different views in matic piano. order to better convey an idea of the opera- A fourth object of the invention is the tive portions of the device. Upon this base provision of a simple mechanism which board and adjacent the front thereof are may be placed beneat-hthe keys of a piano spaced standards 11 and '12; Extending 11o through the standard 12 is a sliding shaft 13 and on theoutside of the standard 12 this shaft is provided with a collar 14 adapted to contact with a stop plate 15 also carried on the outside of the standard. This stop plate 15 is provided with a suitable opening to re ceive the sliding shaft 13 and upon the inside of the standard 12 is a similar plate 16 similarly provided with an opening for the shaft, the two plates together forming the bearings for this shaft. Upon the shaft 13 there is also carried agrooved collar 17 and in the groove of this collar there is held the end of a spring 18 which is fixed to the standard 12 adjacent the lower end thereof,

' the spring constantly tending to force the collar 14 against the plate 15. Upon the standard 11 are plates 19 provided with suitable openings alining with the openings in the plates 15 and 16 and in these openings is held a shaft 20 which is free to rotate in the plates but is prevented from movement longitudinally thereof by means of suitable collars 21 on each side of the standard 11. The shaft 20 is provided with a recess 22 in its inner end and this recess is slotted as indicated at 23. The shaft.13 is also provided with a recess 24.

At 25 is indicated a roll or cylinder of the usual type common with automatic pianos and this roll or cylinder has a. journal 26 at one end which fits within the recess 24: while the opposite end thereof is provided with a journal 27 whereon is a key or feather 28 adapted to be received in the slot 23 so that any rotation of the shaft 20 will rotate the roll. The cylinder 25 is laced in position by drawing back the shaft 13, slipping the journal 27 into the recess in such manner that the key fits the slot and then allowing the shaft 13 to spring back into position so that the journal 26 fits the recess 24.

The standards 11 and 12 are also each provided with wear plates 29 near the bottoms of these standards and these wear plates and the standards are provided with alined perforations which are adapted to receive the journals 30 of a winding roll 31, this roll beingprovided with flanges 32 to properly guide the paper thereon. Furthermore, the winding roll 31 is provided with a reduced central portion. 33 and around the roll in this reduced portion are fixed a plurality of spring fingers 34 in one of which the ring,

-common on the ends of the strips of paper used for the production of music rolls, engages in order to effect the winding of the paper on the roll 31 as the sanieis rotated. At one end of this roll 31 there is provided a gear 35.

At 36 is a bearing block provided with a bearing at its upper end and the standard 11 is also provided with a perforation 37 in alinement with this hearing and likewise constituting a bearing. In these hearings is held a shaft 38 which is both slidable and.

. of a standard 45 which is fixed to th ebase 10 so that as the shaft 38 is moved the sprocket 40 will be prevented from moving sidewise therewith." The sprocket 40 furthermore is provided with a clutch member 46 and fixed upon the shaft 38 is a second clutch member 17 adapted to engage with the clutch member 46 and rotate the same when the shaft is moved in such direction as to disengage the pinion 39 from the gear 35. By means of this arrangement it will be noted that-the cylinder or roll 25 or the be driven from the shaft 38 while the undriven one of the two runs idly so that the roll 31 may eitherv pa er can unwind freely therefrom. In

or er to slide the shaft 38 endwise there is provided on said shaft a shipper collar 48 having the usual groove 19 therein and hinged to a plate 50 on the base 10 is ashipper lever 51 which engages the shipper collar 418 and as this lever is moved to the right or left so also will the shaft 38 be moved in like manner.

- At 52 is indicated a motor and this motor is of the type adapted to rheostatic control but is here indicated simply as a typical motor since neither the motor nor rheostat need be of any specific construction. This'm'otor is provided with the'usual shaft 53 and on this shaft is mounted a shrouded gear 54.

Splined to the shaft 38 is a gear 55 which meshes with'the gear 54, the shrouds of said gear preventing the gear 55 from becoming disengaged therewith'when the shaft 38 is moved laterally. By means of this construction it will be plain that when it is desired to run a roll of paper through the machine the motor, through its rheostat, is arranged to run at the proper speed. The paper roll 25, which has previously been filled, is placedin position and the ring at the end of the paper connected to one of the hooks or fingers 341; The lever 51 is then moved so as to bring the gears 35 and 39 into engagement and consequently to disengage the clutch members 16 and 4:7. The motor being started the paper will unwind from the roll 25 on to the roller 31. When all the paper has been thus woundon to the roll 31 the operation may be reversed by movin 7 the lever 51 to disengage the gear 35 and pinion 39 and engage the clutch members 46 and 47.

This will let the roll 31 run idly while the the ebetween and'yet not allowed any great I Both the tracker board passing freely on the standards 11 and 12 and intermediatein heightbetween the rolls 25 and 31 is a bar 56 and on this bar is ca-rriedwhat may be termed a tracker board 57 in slightly spaced-relation to whichis a die board 58. and-die board are receiving openin s 59 provided with punch The tracker boar and and 60 respectively.

die board are spaced very slightly apart so that the paper-on-the paper'roll may be led am unt of play, it being merely necessary to have sufiiclentspace to permit the paper between the two.

At the rear portions of the standardsll and 12 are mountedguide bars 61 and 62 the same bein spaced apart as clearly indicated'at 63, t isbein t e opening between the bars. These gui e bars 61 and 62 are also each provided with aseries of holes and the four series in the members 57 58-, 612 and 62 are all alined.

On the. base 10 the standards 11 and 12 are these plates servelto assist in to e support 0 the bars 61 and 62 and also serve to support a third guide bar 65 likewise provided with aseries ofperforations in alinement with the series before mentioned.

Slidably mounted in the opposed perforations in the tracker is a series 'of punch lates 64 and members 66 each pro.-

. vided with a collar 67 which prevents its to the bar 61.

moving too far toward the rear of the machine through its respective perforation in the bar 61'. These bars 66 are furthermore each arranged so that at no time can they project entirely across the opening 63 between the bars project except to a slight degree into said openin In order to nolmallyhold the bars in S1101 position that the collars 67 are in contact with the bar 61 eachof the punches 66 is provided with an upstanding arm 68 whereto is secured one end of a spring 69, the opposite ends, of said springs being secured The bar 66 is of such length that when retracted by the spring 66 the opening between the die board 58 and tracker board 57 opposite said-bar will be left clear, while 1 when slightly projected forward against the action of the spring the end. of the bar will project slightly into its re spective opening 60 between the tracker board 57 and the die board 58 will. thereby be punched.

Supportedin suitable hearings in the plate end of which is mounteda. sprocket 71. At 72 is a motor provided with a shaft, 3 whereon is mounted sprockets rods 77 are of such A the punch forward at the ,same time. and immediately behind f this plate,

board 57 and guide 61 61'and 62 but, on the contrary, never specti-Ve slots 83.

so that any paper lying a sprocket 74 and a chain 75 connects thev 71 and 74; Fixed upon the shaft 70 is a cylinder 76 which is, mounted on the shaft eccentrically so that said cylinder forms a cam.

' in the openings of the guide bars 62 and 65 is held a series of punch actuatin rods 77. These rods 77 are each provide with an upstanding arm 78 to which .isconnected one end of a spring 79, the other ends of said springs being connected to the guide bar 65 so that the rear ends of the rods 77 are at all times pressed against the cam? 6. These length and the cam 760i such eccentricity that the forward end-of each rod 7 7 almost its respective punch 66 whenthe'cam has forced the rod forward. The cam 76 is so connected. to the motor and the latter is driven at such speed that the cam revolves very rapidly so that the rods-7 7 have a high numbero freciprocations" in a given-time. Now it will be plain.- that if any substance 'be interposedvbetween the forward endiof one of the rods 77 and its respective punch 66 the forward movement of such rod will' moi'e 11 order to accomplish this} purpose-there ismounted upon the base 10 a plate 80 and on to the rear thereof, is secured a series of electro-magnets 81. observed that the number of punches 66 correspond in number to the keys of a piano or such of them as may be desired to be used, and that the number of magnets correspond exactly to' the number of punches, each magnetbeing a respective onevot the punch actuating rods 77. In order toaccomplish this. and yet keep the punches and rods 77 close together the magnets 81 are arranged in sta gered relation as can be seen clearly by re erence to Fig. 3; Each of the magnets 81 has secured thereto a pair of spaced ears 82 each" provided with a slot 83 and the magnets are furthermore provided -With armatures 84 which are held in adjusted position with relation to the end of the magnet by means of certain screws 85 which ass through the re- In or er to normally hold the armatures 84 away from the magnets each magnethas projecting therefrom. an arm 86, and a spring 87 has one end connected to an armature and the other end to the respective arm 86 belonging to thegmagnet carrying said armature. .From an ,inspection of Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that the different armatures are pivoted ably at the upper portions thereof so that the armature-moves to and from its magnet with a swinging motion. Secured to the up per portion of each armature is an arm 88 and this arm is fastened rigidly to its armature so that as the'armat'ure swings tower the magnet the free end otthe arm will he touches the rear end of located directly beneath prefer It should be such length that when raised. The free ends of all of these arms project sufliciently far forward to lie immediately beneath the opening 63 and in order that'they may move up and down as previously described the plate 80 has formed will be raised. to project into the path ofsaid rod. In order to hold the free end of thedistance'piece against the gtiide bar 62 this guide bar is provided with downwardly projectingpins 91 each lying immediately behind a respective distance piece and a spring 92' connects each of these pins with its respective member 90. It is to be observed that while the punch 66 at no time projects entirely across the opening 63, yet it projects suiiiciently far that when the distance I 5 piece is interposed between the punch and -1ts actuating rod, the rod can cause sutficient movement of the punch to penetrate the paper. This arrangement is clearly shown in Figs.'5 and 6. 4

Turning. now to the means by which the various magnets are energized as the piano keys are depressed and'referring especially to Figs. 7 and 8, at 93'is what is preferably termed a contact board and this contact board supports a seriesof spring contact members 94 so arranged that each of these members lies beneath a respective key 9510f a-piano when the contact board is in position. In order to accomplish this arrangement the spring members 94 each consists of an arcuate portion from which extends anend 06 secured to the board while opposite to this end is a revcrsely curved free end97. These contacts are arranged in two banks to be struck by the white and black keys of the piano respectively, this arrangement being clearly seen in Fig. 7. Extending downward through the board 93 and through the ends 96 of. the contact members 94; are binding screws 98 which are all connected by IXIQEIIIS OIE SllIiILblQ wiresas at 99* to a battery 100. Beneath the free ends and from each ofthese binding screws 102 of the members 94 are contacts 101 held to the board by means of binding screws 102 a wire 103 is led to a respective one of the magnets 81, care being taken that each wire shall be connected to the proper magnet.

. These magnets are furthermore all connected in multiple-to a wire 104 which leads to the battery 100. These spring contact fingers are of such dimensions that the instant the key is depressed contact will be 1 when the armature is at-' having been set in motion at the actuating all of the rods was struck.

the key is further depressed the free end of the spring contact will slide .along the fixed contact so as .to maintain the circuit in closed conditionthroughout' the entire operation of depressing the key. I

In the operation of the device-the depression oi" any key of the piano serves to close the circuit through the respective magnet controlled by that key. This attracts the armature of saidmagnet and raises the distance' piece connected thereto. The. paper desired rate of speed and the motor 7 2 having also been set in motion the rods 77 will at this time be reciprocated rapidly. Asthe distance piece is moved up the same is caught between the rod and its respective punch with the 7 result that the punch is likewise reciprocated rapidly. This causes thepunch to enetrate the paper and punch out a series 0 circular disks which, owing to the rapid reciprocation, form substantially a slot. Just so long as the key is kept depressed so long will the reciprocation of the specific punch controlled thereby continue so that the slot may be made as long as desired to reproduce the length of the depression of the key. Furthermore, in like manner produce but a single punching of the paper and thus reproduce a staccato effect in the automatic player. It will also be noted that when a chord is'struck, by reason of the cam being a. cylinder and 77 simultaneously, the punches will also be actuated simultaneously so that the reproduction of the chord is assured in the exact manner in which it The paper having all been wound on the roll 31 the operation is completed-and'the paper is then rewound as previously described on the roll 25 which can then be removed and a fresh unpunched roll substituted;

The mechanism, other than that beneath the key-board 'can be located at any convenient position such as on top of the piano, on a table, or the piano itself may have this mechanism built in.

There has thus been and efficient device of the for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made'inthe form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is I 1. In a device of the kind described, a :iprocable punch, a reciprocable punch provided a simple kind described and a staccatobl ow upon the key will actuating rod in alinement therewith, spaced guides for supporting the adjacent ends of said punch and rod, a spacer movable into and out of position between said rod and punch, a spring holding said spacer against the guide for the rod end, means toreciprocate the rod, and electro-magnetic means to move said spacer between the rod and punch. a

2. In a device oi the kind described, a reciprocable punch, a reciprocable punch actuating rod in alinement therewith, spaced guides 'for supporting the ad]acent ends of said punch and rod, a spacer movable into and out of posit-ion between said rod and punch, a spring holding said spacer against the guide tor the rod end, means to reciprocatethe rod, a normally open electric circuit, electromagnetic mechanism in said circuit to move said spacer between the rod and punch, and piano key controlled means to close said circuit.-

3. In a device of the kind described, a reciprocable punch, a guide for one end thereof, a collar-on said punch to limit its movement through said guide, a spring connected to said punch and guide to normally hold the collar against said guide, a reciprocable punch' actuating with the punch, a guide for said rod in spaced. relation to the first mentioned guide,

a reciprocable spacer movable in the space between said guides, means to reciprocate said bar continuously, key controlled elements to reciprocate said spacer, and a spring connected to said spacer and the guide for said rod to hold the spacer against said guide.

4. In a device of the kind described, a series of independently reciprocable punches, a guide bar supporting the juxtaposed ends of said punches, a collar on each punch to limit its movement through the guide, springs each having one end connected to one of said punches and the other end to said guide, said springs normally holding said collars against said guide, a series of reciprocable punch actuating rods number to said punches and each in alinement with one of the punches, means to simultaneously reciprocate all of said rods, said rods being at all times spaced from said punches, a series of spacers equal in number to said rods and movable into and out of the paths of the respective rods, and key controlled elements for so moving said spacers.

5. In a device of the kind described, a series of punches, a series of punch actuating rods each in alinei'nent with one of the punches, a series of springs each yieldingly holding one of said rods away from its rerod in alinement equal in spective punch, a shaft adjacent the ends of said rods opposite the punches and lying 1n the plane of the rods, a cam cylinder eccentrically carried by the shaft and against which'the ends of the rods rest, and means to rotate said cam cylinder and simultaneously cause all of said rods to reciprocate.

6. In a device of the kind described, areciprocable punch, a reciprocable. actuating rod in alinement with said punch, spaced guides for the adjacent ends of said punch and rod, an open-electric circuit, an electromagnet therein, a swinging armature forsaid magnet, an arm fixed to said armature,"7 5 a spacer pivoted to the end of said arm and having its free end movable into position between said rod and punch when the magnet is energized, a piano key actuated circuit closer in said circuit, and means to reciprocate the rod.

7. In a device of the class described, a reciprocable punch, a reciprocable' actuating rod in alinement with said punch, spaced guides for the adjacent ends of said punch and rod, an open electric circuit,.an electromagnet therein, a swinging armature pivoted to said magnet, an arm fixed to said armature, a spacer pivoted to said arm and hav ing its free end movable into position between said rod and punch when the magnet is energized, a bracket extending from said magnet beyond said armature, a spring connecting said bracket and ari'nature to draw the armature away from the magnet when the latter is deenergized, a piano key actuated circuit closer in said circuit, and means toreciprocate the rod.

8. The combination with a piano key; of a circuit closer adapted to be actuated thereby comprising a base, a spring contact consisting of a strip ofresilient conducting material having one end fixed to said base, its central portion bowed upwardly to lie in juxtaposition to the key and its free end in juxtaposition to the base, a coacting contact lying beneath said free end and of suflicient size to permit the full. depression of the key without breaking said contact whereby the free end of the resilient strip is depressed as 110 the key begins its downward movement and brought into engagement with the coacting contact, said free end then sliding along said coacting contact during the remainder of the downward'movement of the key, and 115 means to attach wires to said contacts.

In testimony whereof, I atiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' DONALD M. OLOAK.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. NVHARTON, M. HAYES WILSON. 

